The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) - Volume II — Page 410
Seal of the Prophets - Volume II 410 Muḥaddithīn generally believe that since divine revelation had been sent down with respect to the marriage of Ḥaḍrat Zainab ra and as this marriage took place due to special divine command, an actual ceremony of Nikāḥ did not take place. However, this notion is incorrect. Undoubtedly, this marriage took place in accordance with the command of God, and it can be said that this marriage was settled in the heavens, as it were. However, this cannot relieve a person from the practical application of the Sharī‘at , which is also instituted by God Himself. Hence, the reference of Ibni Hishām, which has been alluded to above, has explicitly stated that the actual ceremony of Nikāḥ did in fact take place and in this respect, the matter is clear and leaves no room for uncertainty or doubt. Moreover, as for the Ḥadīth which states that Ḥaḍrat Zainab ra would express in a manner of pride to the other Ummahātul- Mu’minīn that their marriages were announced through their guardians on the earth, while her marriage was announced in the heavens, it is also false to deduce from this that the physical ceremony of her marriage did not take place. The reason being, that even in the case of an apparent ceremony, she maintains the distinction that her marriage was settled in the heavens under the special order of God, while the marriages of the other Ummahātul-Mu’minīn took place under normal circumstances, merely with an apparent ceremony having taken place. In another narration it is related that the Holy Prophet sa went to Zainab ra without permission, and it is deduced from this as well, that a physical ceremony did not take place. However, if one reflects, this fact does not have any relation whatsoever with a physical ceremony being held or not. If it is inferred from this that the Holy Prophet sa went to the home of Ḥaḍrat Zainab ra without permission, then this is incorrect and contrary to the facts, because an explicit narration in Bukhārī states that after their marriage, Zainab ra was bid farewell from her home, and came to the home of the Holy Prophet sa , not vice versa. 1 If, however, this narration is inferred to suggest that after her Rukhsatānah took place and she entered the home of the Holy Prophet sa , he went to her without any specific permission, this is nothing out of the ordinary and not at odds with general practice. After coming to the home of the Holy Prophet sa as his wife, it was obvious that the Holy Prophet sa would go to her, and no permission was required in this respect. Hence, the narration regarding the Holy Prophet sa not seeking permission, has no relation 1 Ṣaḥīḥul-Bukhārī, Kitābut-Tafsīr, Tafsīru Sūratil-Aḥzāb, Bābu Qaulihī Lā Tadkhulū Buyūtan- Nabiyyi sa. . . . . , Ḥadīth No. 4791-4792